Indicator for gasoline, etc.



s. M. WESSOLECK.

INDICATOR FOR GASOLINE, ETC.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21,1920.

1 ,406,3 1 2, Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

In ven tor: 5M. Waijoleok UNITED STATES- snmmmr n. WESSOLECK, or

PATENT orrics;

NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT.

INDICATOR FO R GASOLINE, ETC. 7

T 0 all wiwm it may concern:

Be it known that I, SHELDEN M. WESSO- LECK, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at New Britain, Connec ticut, have invented a new and useful Indicator for Gasoline,-Etc., of which the following is a specification.

, My invention relates to apparatus for indicating at adistance the depth or level of a liquid, and is especially intended to indicate at the dashboard the depth of the gasoline in the tank of an automobile.

The main object is to provide a simple and reliable apparatus for this purpose, which is adapted to be used withtanks of different depths, and which is safe. Y In its preferred form the invention contemplates the use of a float in a gasoline tank, connected by an adjustable linkage to a movable member of a rheostat or resistance outside of the tank and arranged in series invention, the tank being shown in vertical section and the rheostat shown separate in plan view in circuit with a meter;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section showing the float, rheostat and connecting linkage; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a part of the rheostat case showing the external connections.

The tank 5 may be of any suitable construction. The float or buoyant member 6 is carried by the end of an arm 7 which is pivoted at- 8 to a support 9. The latter depends from a base 10, which is suitably secured to the upper part of the tank, preferably by means of a collar 11 which screws onto theneck 12 about an opening, through which the float, linkage and support may be inserted. Packing 13 may be employed, if desired- Mounted on the base member 10 is a case 14 containing a 'series of rheostatcoils 15 constituting a resistance. The insulating member 16 .covers these coils and carries a terminal 17 for one end of the resistance,

and a series of contacts 18 for theintermediate connections. The traveling contact arm 19 is carried by the insulating disk 20 on the upper end of the shaft 21 withinthe casing. 011 the lower end of the shaft 21 Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 14:, 1922. Application filed :ru1 21, i920. Serial mi. 397,919.

. clamping screw 26 in an elongated slot 27,

sothat, with a given position of the arm 24, the contact member 19, the float 6 and arm 7 may be adjusted to their proper positions. I also preferably connect the link 25 with the arm 24 in a similar mariner, to permit adjustment, so as to give a maximum range of movement of the contact arm 19 for any depth of tank.

The rheostat case is preferably provided ,with a cover 28, which may be held in place by a. spring clip 29. The circuit connections are efiected by binding posts 30 and 31,-.

which are carried by the cover 28. The binding post 30 is adapted to screw onto the top of the terminal 17, and the binding screw '31 carries a spring-pressed plunger 32, which engages the contact arm 19. t

The meter 33, of any suitable type, has one terminal connected to the binding post 30, and the other terminal connected to the binding post 31. It will be understood, of course, that any battery, such as 34, having a constant voltage, will be employed, and

that a switch 35 maybe employed so that the circuit may be opened or closed, as desired, so as to obtain either a constant indication or a momentary indication.

When the tank is full the pointer of the meter will indicate the inaximum reading on the meter. The graduations may be any system of units desired, as, for instance, inches, gallons, liters, or simply full, three-quarters, or other fractions of full. As the .float moves up .or down, the contact 19 is moved so as to cut in or out a portion of the resistance of the rheostat and thus vary the current flowing through the meter, soas to operate .the pointer of the meter proportionally to thechanges in depth of the liquid in the tank. By having all of the electriccontacts outside of the tankand in an enclosed casing, there is no danger of sparks igniting the gas and causing an explosion. I -I claim: t

Ina liquid level indicator, an electric mecluding a base, a support extending from one side thereof, and a rheostat inoludmg a movable member on the other side, a float,-meB7ns connecting the float and the movable member of the rheostat, said means being adjustable to, cause the float to give the movable member a full throw for difierent full ranges of movement of thefloat to accommodate the i device to tanks of difierent depths, and 10 means for electrically connecting'said meter and rheostat with each other and with a source-of constant potential.

. SHELDEN MUVWESSOLECK. 

